Magnet shifting mechanism for retrieval system utilizing magnetically responsive cards

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to card retrieval systems of the type in which card selection from a deck of similar cards which are magnetically responsive and randomly stored in vertical face-toface relation is effected by laterally shifting, under the force of a movable magnet, one or more of the stored cards while restraining against movement the undesired cards, thereby physically separating the desired cards from those not desired. More particularly, this invention relates to a magnet-shifting method and apparatus useful in systems of the type described which reduces the breakaway, or maximum, force which must be applied to the magnet before it can become disengaged from the undesired cards and, by further movement, increase the separation between the desired and undesired cards.

United States Patent Inventor Daniel ,I. Bandenburg Cincinnati, OhioAppl. No. 835.589

Filed June 23. 1969 Patented Aug. 3, 1971 Assignee 0K PartnershipCincinnati, Ohio MAGNET SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR RETRIEVAL SYSTEMUTILIZING MAGNETICALLY RESPONSIV E CARDS 3,478,877 11/1969 Parry209/80.5

Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-Wood, Herron & EvansABSTRACT: This invention relates to card retrieval systems of the typein which card selection from a deck of similar cards which aremagnetically responsive and randomly stored in vertical face-to-facerelation is effected by laterally shifting, under the force of a movablemagnet, one or more of the stored cards while restraining againstmovement the undesired cards, thereby physically separating the desiredcards from those not desired. More particularly, this invention relatesto a magnet-shifting method and apparatus useful in systems of the typedescribed which reduces the breakaway, or maximum, force which must beapplied to the magnet before it can become disengaged from the undesiredcards and, by further movement, increase the separation between thedesired and undesired cards.

PATENTED Am; 3 MI SHEET 1 0F 7 l NVEN TOR.

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PATENTEU AUG 31971 3,596,762

SHEET 5 OF 7 l/II/ l/IIl/I/III mei a MAGNET SHIFTING MECHANISM FORRETRIEVAL SYSTEM UTILIZING MAGNETICALLY RESPONSIVE CARDS A cardretrieval system of the type with which the magnetshifting method andapparatus of this invention finds-an extraordinarily high degree ofutility is disclosed and claimed in the copending application of RobertD. Parry, for ARTICLE SELECTION SYSTEM, Ser. No. 661,758, filed Aug. 4,1967, now US. Pat. No. 3,478,877. in accordance with the Parry system, aplurality of rectangular cards are provided, each having teeth formedalong a sorting edge, preferably the bottom edge, which are selectivelyremovable for coding purposes and which are spaced from each other byintermediate registration notches. The cardsare also provided with alock notch and removed corner section. The lock notch and removed comersection are positioned along the sorting edge between the group ofremovable teeth and their associated registration notches, and anadjacent card side edge herein termed the trailing edge." The cardfurther includes a ferromagnetic implant or chip mounted in the verticaledge of the card opposite the trailing edge, herein termed the leadingedge.

A plurality or deck of cards, numbering up to approximately 2,000 cards,are randomly stored in face-to-face vertical relation in a card selectorapparatus. The card selector apparatus is provided with a horizontallydisposed planar slotted platen which supports the upstanding cards. Theorientation of the platen and cards relative to each other is such thatthe codenotched sorting edges of the randomly stored cards rest on theplaten with their sorting edges transverse to the platen slots. Disposedin the platen slots are a plurality of code, or sort, barscorrespondingin number to, and aligned with, the registration notchesformed by the spaces between the codenotchable teeth. The sort bars,which normally are positioned with their upper edges flush with the topsurface of the platen, are selectively elevatable to an upper, or set,position wherein their upper edges protrude above the platen into theassociated card registration notches of the stored cards. Locatedparallel to the sort bars and opposite the lock notches of the storedcards is a transversely disposed lock bar which is selectivelyelevatable to a card lock position. in the card lock position the lockbar is susceptive of being positioned in the lock notches of those cardswhose lock notches are aligned with the lock bars. An elongated magnetis transversely disposed relative to the stored cards opposite and inalignment with'the ferromagnetic chips implanted in the leading edgesofthe cards. The elongated magnet is mounted on a drawerlike structurefor movement toward and away from the implanted ferromagnetic chips ofcards positioned in their normal stored position on the platen, that is,the magnet is mounted for movement in a direction parallel to thesorting edges of the stored cards.

Card selection in the Parry retrieval system is effected in twosequential phases, namely, an initial separation phase and a finalseparation phase. The initial separation phase is accomplished byelevating or setting the sort bars in a pattern conforming to theremoved tooth pattern of the desired card or cards, and thereaftermoving the magnet a distance equal to one tooth in a direction parallelto the sorting edge. Ideally the desired cards, that is, the cardshaving a removed tooth pattern conforming to that of the set sort bars,shift laterally in the direction of their sorting edges a distance equalto the width of one tooth, and .in so doing align their removed cornersections in the trailing edge with the lock bar. This movement ispossible because the teeth of the desired cards located adjacent to theset sort bars are removed by virtue of the codenotching process. Theundesired cards, that is, those cards with a nonconforming removed toothpattem,'are not free to move in a direction parallel to their sortingedge, and consequently remain stationary, leaving their trailing edgelock notches aligned with the lock bar. Once initially separated, the

desired cards are further separated from the undesired cards to effectthe final separation phase by moving the magnet further in a directionparallel to the card-sorting edges an additional distance, the magnitudeof which'depends on the amount of separation between the selected andunselected cards which is ultimately desired.

However, prior to moving the magnet the additional distance necessary toeffect further separation of the desired and undesired cards, the lockbar is elevated to engage the lock notches of the unselected cards whichhave remained stationary and aligned with the lock bar during theinitial phase of magnet movement. The elevated lock bar does not engagethe lock notches of the desired cards because these cards, in the courseof the initial separation phase of the retrieval process, shiftedrelative to the undesired cards in a direction parallel to their sortingedges a distance sufficient to locate the lock bar in transverseregistry with the removed corner sections of the desired cards. With thelock notches of only the undesired cards engaged by the set lock bar,the sort bars are reset and the magnet moved further in a directionparallel to the sorting edge. This further separates the desired cardsfrom the undesired cards which are positively restrained from movementby the lock bar which engages their lock notches. Thus, the lock barpositively prevents, during the final separation phase, selection ofundesired cards.

In the preferred card selector embodiment disclosed in the previouslyreferenced Parry patent application, the initial phase of the cardretrieval cycle is accomplished by moving the elongated magnet in adirection parallel to the card-sorting edges for a distance equal to thewidthof one tooth while at all times maintaining the magnet parallel toits position at the start of the sorting cycle, namely, parallel to thesorting bars. When the initial card separation phase of the retrievalcycle is effected in the manner indicated, wherein the magnet at alltimes remains parallel to its starting position, the individualattractive forces between the magnet and each unselected card chipdiminish to zero at approximately the same instant of time in the courseof magnet travel. Stated differently, when the magnet moves inparallelism in the manner indicated in connection with the Parryselector, the magnet breaks away" from each individual unselected cardchip at substantially the same instant.

in a card selector of the Parry type, where breakaway occurssimultaneously for all unselected cards, the force which must be appliedto the magnet to enable such breakaway is relatively large. The reasonfor this is that until the magnet actually breaks away, forces ofattraction continueto exist between the chip of every undesired card andthe magnet. In a typical 2,000 card capacity selector, wherein in anygiven card retrieval cycle only a few cards are likely to be selected,the breakaway force which must be overcome between the magnet and thebulk of the cards is on the order of 200 lbs. With forces of suchmagnitude, the cost of the magnet drive motor means is undesirablylarge, and hence objectionable.

It has been an objective of this invention to provide a card selectionmethod and apparatus which significantly reduces the forces which mustbe applied to the magnet of a Parry type selector during the initialphase of the card-sorting cycle to enable the magnet to overcome itsattraction to the chips of the unselected cards, and thereby break awayand move freely to further separate the desired cards from those notdesired. This objective has been accomplished in accordance with certainof the principles of this invention by utilizing an entirely differentapproach to the manner into which the magnet is moved during the initialphase of the card retrieval cycle. Specifically, this objective has beenaccomplished by, during the initial stage of the card retrieval cycle,first initiating advancement of one end of the magnet, thereby skewingor canting the magnet relative to its position at the start of thecycle, and thereafter initiating advancement of the other end of themagnet ultimately restoring the magnet to its condition of parallelism.By virtue of such noncoincidental magnet end region movement, the magnetend regions break away from their associated groups of undesired cardsat different times in the course of the initial phase of the cardretrieval cycle,

thereby reducing the maximum force which must be applied to the magnetto permit it to break away from the unselected cards. With the breakawayforce reduced, the drive assembly which shifts the magnet is simplified,and the required starting torque for the motive means which operates thedrive assembly is substantially reduced, decreasing the powerrequirements of the magnet motor means.

It has been a further objective of this invention to provide simple andinexpensive means for maintaining magnet parallelism throughout thesubsequent or final separation phase of the retrieval operation oncesuch parallelism has been restored at the end of the initial phase ofthe card retrieval cycle. This objective has been accomplished inaccordance with certain additional principles of this invention by theextraordinarily simple expedient of providing a rack mounted formovement with the magnet in a direction parallel its longitudinal axis,and a pinion rotatably mounted about a stationary axis which initiatesmeshing engagement with the rack once the magnet has been restored toits position of parallelism upon completion of the initial phase of thecard retrieval cycle. An advantage of such a rack and pinion arrangementis that in the event an offcenter force is applied to the magnet duringthe final phase of the retrieval cycle in an effort to further separatethe desired and undesired cards, the magnet will not skew or cant. Byeliminating the possibility of skewing or canting, the magnet mountingstructure can be simplified, at least to the extent that it need not bedesigned to avoid binding between the moveable magnet and the stationarymagnet supporting structure should offcenter forces be applied to themagnet during the final phase of the card retrieval cycle.

This and other objectives and advantages of the invention will becomemore readily apparent from a detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings in which FIG.1' is a perspective viewof the front of the preferred embodiment of thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the rear of thepreferred embodiment.

FIGS. 3A-3E are schematic side elevational views of a card selectorshowing the relationship, during different phases of a card retrievalcycle, of the drawer, magnet, platen, sorting and lock bars,'and desiredand undesired cards.

FIG. 4 is a top elevational view, partially broken away, of thepreferred embodiment showing therelationship of the cam, bellcranks,drawer-mounted magnet, and the racks and pinions at the beginning of thecard retrieval cycle when the cam is in its home position.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a portion of thepreferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plot of the drawer and magnet displacement versus theangular rotation of the cam.

FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are top elevational views similar to FIG. 4 of thepreferred embodiment showing the relation of the cam, bellcranks,drawer-mounted magnet, and the racks and pinions during different phasesof the card retrieval cycle.

FIG. I1 is a cross-sectional view showing a single rack and pinioncombination which cooperate to maintain the drawer and magnet in acondition of parallelism during the final phase of the card retrievalcycle.

' For the purpose of more easily understanding the magnet drivemechanism .of this invention, the invention is described in connectionwith a card retrieval system of the general type disclosed in thepreviously referenced Parry application, the entire disclosure of whichis specifically incorporated herein by reference. The Parry retrievalsystem, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a keyboardcontrolconsole l0 and a card selector 12. The keyboard console 10preferably is of the type disclosed and claimed in the copendingapplication of Robert J. Kalthofi' et al. for Console and ControlCircuit," Ser. No. 539,792, filed Apr. 4, I966 now U.S.' Pat. No.3,450,261, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporatedherein by reference. The card selector 12 includes, enclosed within ahousing 13, a stationary horizontally disposed planar platen 20 whichsupports a deck of randomly stored vertically disposed cards 22. Atransversely disposed elongated magnet 24 common to all the cards 22 andin alignment with ferromagnetic chips 23 implanted in the leading edgesof the cards is secured toothed sorting edge 32, preferably the loweredge thereof,

provided with alternate teeth 34-1 to 34-6 and registration notches 35-1to 35-6. Each of the teeth 34-1 to 34-6 is susceptive of being encodedin binary by selective as by notching, of the respective tooth. Thesorting edge 32 further includes a lock notch 36 located between a groupof encodeable teeth 34 and registration notches 35, and the transversecard edge 38 herein termed the trailing edge. Adjacent to the lock notch36 is a removed portion 40 of the card located intermediate the locknotch 36 and the trailing edge 38. The card 22 further includes theferromagnetic chip 23 implanted in the card at the corner of the sortingedge 32 and a transverse edge 44 herein termed the leading edge."

When the cards 22 are in their normal unselected position on the platen20 of the selector 12, the registration notches 35-1 to 35-6 and thelock notch 36 are aligned with a plurality of transversely disposed sortbars 48-1 to 48-6 and a lock bar 50 which are'disposed transverse to,and in common with, all the cards. Both the sorting bars 48-1 to 48-6and the lock bar 50 are appropriately positioned in slots formed in theupper surface of the platen 20. The bars 48-1 to 48-6 and 50 areelevatable from a reset position wherein their upper edges are flushwith the upper surface of the platen to a set position wherein theyenter their associated notches 35-1 to 35-6, and 36, respectively, ofcards located in the storage position. Elevation of the bars 48-1 to48-6 and 50 is effected by solenoids (not shown) controlled by thekeyboard console 10.

To select a card or cards 22 having a particular code, for example, acard 220 having teeth 34-2 and 34-6 removed, from among a group of cards22b not having teeth 34-2 and 34-6 removed, the appropriate sort bars 48are elevated to the set position. Specifically, sort bars 48-2 and 48-6corresponding to the removed tooth pattern of the desired card 22a areelevated to the position shown in FIG. 28. With the sort bars 48-2 and48-6 in a set position, the desired cards 22a having teeth 34-2 and 34-6removed can be laterally shifted in the direction 46a of arrow 46 adistance equal to the width of one tooth, to produce an initialseparation of the desired cards from the undesired cards. However, theundesired cards 22b not havingtooth 34-2 and/or tooth 34-6 removed arerestrained from lateral movement in the direction 46a of arrow 46 by oneor both of the set or elevated sort bars 48-2 and 48-6, which, in theset position, mechanically interfere with the unremoved teeth 34-2 and34-6 of the undesired cards 22b.

With the sort bars 48-2 and 48-6 conforming to the removed tooth patternof the desired card 22a in the set posi tion, the magnet 24 is shiftedin the direction 46a of arrow 46 a distance equal to the width of onetooth to the position shown in FIG. 2C. Those cards free to shift,namely, the desired cards 22a move with the magnet 24 a distance of onetooth width, effecting an initial separation of the desired andundesired cards. Movement of the desired cards 22a in this fashionaligns the removed portion 40 of the desired cards opposite the lock bar50. The undesired cards 22b do not move in the direction 46a of arrow 46by reason of the engagement of one or more of their unremoved teeth 34-2and 34-6 with the set sort bars 48-2 and 48-6, respectively.Consequently, the lock notches 36 of the undesired cards 22b remainaligned with the lock bar 50. At this point the initial phase of thecard selection operation is complete.

Further separation of the desired cards 22a from the undesired cards 22bto effect the final card selection phase of the retrieval operation isaccomplished by elevating to a set position the lockbar 50, and manunset position the sort bars 48-2 and 486, as shown in FIG. 3D. Settinglock bar 50 posi' tively prevents the undesired cards 22b from moving inresponse to the continued movement of the magnet 24 in the direction 460of arrow 46. Resetting or lowering the set sort bars 48-2 and 48-6 afterthe initial card separation phase enables the selected cards 22a tocontinue movement in the direction 46a of arrow 46 in response tomovement of the magnet 24 in this direction, the desired cards 22a beingfree to move in this direction by reason of the removed portion 40thereof being aligned with the elevated or set lock bar 50. With thelock bar 50 set and the sort bars 48 all in their lower, reset position,the magnet 24 is advanced further in the direction 46a of arrow 46 tothe position shown in H0. 3E, further separating the desired cards 220from the undesired cards 22b. At this point, the final card selectionphase of the retrieval cycle is complete, marking the completion of theentire card retrieval operation.

The card selector 12, considered in more detail in conjunction withFIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, includes the housing 13 having a bottom surface13A, a rear surface 138, opposite side surfaces 13C and 13D, a frontsurface 13E provided with a suitably configured removed portion foraccommodating the drawer 26, and an upper surface 13F. The housing 13may be fabricated of any suitable material, such .as, sheet metal.Located within the housing 13 is the horizontal planar platen providedwith suitable transverse slots for receiving the vertically shifiablecode bars 48 and lock bar 50. The platen 20 is secured by means (notshown) to the top surfaces 55 and 56 of stationary guide blocks 57 and58 which in turn are secured to the upper surface of a stationary frameplate 54. Also enclosed within the housing 13 and positioned beneath theplaten 20 is a sliding plate 53 to which is secured the drawer 26 whichmounts the magnet 24. The opposite side edges 59 and 60 of the slidingplate 53 are slidably positioned in guide slots 61 and 62 formed in theguide locks 57and 58. The guide slots 61 and 62 cooperate with the plateedges 59 and 60 to mount the plate 53, and hence the drawer 26 andmagnet 24, forreciprocal movement in' the direction of arrows 46a and46b. The depth of the slots 61 and 62 measured in the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the magnet 24 is greater than the mating portionsof edges 59 and 60 of the plate measured in the same direction to permitthe plate 53 to skew in the slots, for reasons o become evidenthereafter.

To effect movement of the sliding plate 53 in the direction of arrow46a, and hence movement of the drawer 26 and 24, as is necessary tocomplete the initial and final card selection phases of the cardretrieval cycle, a magnet shifting mechanism generally indicated by thereference numeral 64 is provided. The magnet shifting mechanism 64includes a cam 63 which is mounted for rotation with a vertical shaft 65fixed at its upper end to the cam center. The shaft 65 is rotatablymounted by a suitable stationary bushing 66 fixed in the bore 67 of aboss 68 formed integral with the upper surface of the frame supportplate 54. The lower end of the shaft 65 is secured to a sprocket 70which is driven by drive sprocket 72 via a chain 71. Drive sprocket 72is powered by a motor 73 mounted to the upper surface of the framesupport plate 54.

Motor 73 has a shaft 74 extending downwardly through a suitable aperturein the frame support plate. Shaft 74 is connected to the sprocket 72.

Cooperating with the cam 63 are identically constructed bellcranks 28and 29. The bellcranks 28 and 29 are mounted for rotation about verticalaxes by stationary shafts 76 and 77 which are anchored in the uppersurface of the frame support plate 54. Shafts 76 and 77 pass throughsuitable bushings 78 and 79 formed integral with the intermediateportions of the bellcranks 28 and 29. Each of the bellcranks 28 and 29has a pair of legs 28A, 28B and 29A, 293, respectively. Mounted at theends of the legs 28A and 29A of bellcranks 28 and 29 are rotatable camfollower wheels 80 and 81 which cooperate with a peripheral cam surface69'formed on the cam 63 to be described in detail hereafter. Mounted atthe ends of the legs 28B and 29B of bellcranks 28 and 29 are driveblocks 82 and 83 which are adapted to engage suitably positioned stops84 and 85 fixed to the inner surface of the drawer 26 for transmittingto the drawer, and hence to the magnet 24 supported thereby, forceapplied by the cam surface 69 to the followers 80 and 81 during theinitial phase of the card retrieval operation. The cam 63, in additionto the peripheral cam surface '69 which cooperates with the bellcrankmounted cam followers 80 and 81 for imparting motion to the magnet 24during the initial phase of the card retrieval cycle, also includes acamdrive wheel 87 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis via a pin88 anchored at its lower end in the upper surface of the cam 63. The camdrive wheel 87 is adapted to engage a cam follower edge 89 formed in therear of the sliding plate 53 for imparting positioning motion to thedrawer 26, and hence to the magnet 24, during the final phase of thecard retrieval cycle.

Referring to F1G.'6, the cam 63 which is shown in its home or 0position, is seen to include four lobes A, B, D and D formed'ontheperipheral cam edge 69. Cam lobe A, when the cam 63 rotates throughan angle of 15 in the counterclockwise direction from the point to the80 point is adapted to impart 0.125 inches of movement to the stopmember 84, and hence to the right hand side of the magnet 24, as viewedin FIG. 7. Cam lobe B, when the cam wheel 27 rotates from the 80 pointto the 97 point, is adapted to impart 0.125 inches of displacement tothe cam follower wheel 81, and hence to the stop 85 and the left-handportion of the magnet 24, as viewed in FIG. 8. The combination of camlobes A and B functions to advance the drawer 26, and hence the magnet24, during the initial phase of the card retrieval operation in a skewedmanner. Specifically, in the initial phase of the card retrievable cyclecam lobe A advances the right hand side of the magnet 24 a distanceequal to 0.125 inches,

whereafter cam lobe B advances the left hand side of the magnet the samedistance. Upon completion of engagement of cam lobe B at the 97 pointwith its associated cam follower wheel 81, the magnet 24 is parallel tothe chips 23 of the stored cards, and the initial phase of the cardretrieval cycle which began at the 65 point is completed.

Cam lobes D and D are located on diametrically opposite edges of the camdisc periphery 69, and as a consequence thereof simultaneously engagetheir respective cam follower wheels 81 and 80. The cam lobes D and D,when the cam 27 rotates counterclockwise from the 165 point to the 170'point in the cam cycle are adapted to impart equal and simultaneousdisplacements of 0.125 inches to their associated cam followers 81 and80 for imparting, in turn, equal and simultaneous displacements of 0.125inches to the drawer 26, which is now parallel to the chips of thestored cards, for reasons to be described.

The cam drive .wheel 87, when the cam 63 rotates from the 200 point inthe cycle to the 330 point, engages the cam follower edge 89 of plate53, driving the plate 53 and, hence the drawer 26 and magnet 24, fromits position displaced 0.25 inches from the home position through anadditional displacement of 1.75 inches. At the 330 point the magnet 24has been displaced a total distance of 2 inches, and the final phase ofthe card separation cycle, which began at the 165 point, is nowcomplete.

To insure maintenance of proper realignment of the magnet 24, whichduringthc initial phase of the card retrieval cycle is advanced in askewed fashion by the time displaced engagement of cam lobes A and Bwith their respective cam follower wheels and 81, a pair of racks and 96which cooperate with a pair of pinions 97 and 98 are provided. The racks95 and 96 are secured to the lower surface of the guide edges 59 and 60of the sliding plate 53, and have teeth on their lower surfaces whichmesh with the peripheral teeth of the pinions 97 and 98. The pinions 97and 98 are fixed to the ends of a shaft 99 which is rotatably mountedfor rotation about its axis by a pair spaced journal blocks 92 and 93secured to the upper .surface of the frame support plate 54. The lengthand position of the racks 95 and 96 relative to the pinions 97 and 98are such that meshing engagement of the racks and pinions begins at the165 point of cam rotation when the cam lobes D and D advance theopposite ends of the magnet 24 which are rendered parallel to the chips23 of the stored cards at the 97 point-when cam B completesengagementwith its associated follower 81. The racks 95 and 96 and cooperatingpinions 97 and 98 insure that the magnet 24 remains parallel to thechips 23 of the stored cards during the final phase of the cardretrieval cycle. By maintaining this parallelism during the final stageof the card retrieval cycle the sliding plate 25 does not become skewedor canted relative to the guide slots 61 and 62- i of guide blocks 57and 58 as the cam drive wheel 87 engages the cam follower 89 of theplate, driving the magnet 24 outwardly to effect the final cardseparation phase of the retrieval cycle.

Prior to the start of a card retrieval cycle, the drawer 26 is in 24,cards 22, sort bars 48 and lock bar 50 now occupy the its innermostposition as shown in FIG. 4, bringing the magnet v ,24 in contact withthe .chips 23 of the stored cards as best shown in FIG. 3A.Additionally, the cam 63 is in the home position shown in FIG. 4. Toinitiate a card retrieval cycle, the sort bars 48 corresponding to theremoved notch pattern of the desired cards 22a are elevated from thereset position shown in FIG. 3A to the set position shown in FIG. 38 byac tivating the appropriate keys of the console 10. Thereafter the motor73 is energized, by activation of a suitably provided start key on theconsole l0 which initiates rotation of the'cam 63 through a cycle of360. For the first 65 of rotation of cant 63 from the 0 point to the 65point (designated region K in the plot of magnet displacement versus camrotation of FIG.

6), the cam follower wheels 80 and 81 are not displaced and hence thedrawer 26 and magnet 24 remain stationary. Starting at the 65 point inthe cam rotation cycle and continuing through the 80 point, cam followerwheel 80 engages cam lobe A, moving the right hand side (as viewed inFIG. 4) of the drawer 26, and hence of the magnet 24, through adisplacement of 0.I25 inches, from the position shown in FIG.4 to theposition shown in FIG. 7. During this movement of the right- I the setbars 48 are advanced to effect a partial separation from hand side ofthe drawer-26, which is designated region A in the plot of FIG. 6, thedesired cards 22a in theright hand section. of the selector having anotch pattern conforming to that of t the remaining undesired cards 22b.The undesired cards 22b in the right-hand section of the selector, whichdo not have a notch pattern conforming to that of the set bars, arerestrained from movement by the set bars and accordingly their chips 23disengage the magnet 24. t I

As the cam 27 rotates from the 80 point of the cycle to the 97 point,designated region B in the plot of FIG. 6, the left hand side ofthedrawer 26, and hence of the magnet '24, ad-

vances 0.125 inches from the position shown in FIG. 7 to the ..positionshown in FIG. 8. During this portion of the cycle the plot of FIG. 6,the initial separation phase of the card retrieval cycle which began atthe 65 point is complete, and the drawer 26 is in the position shown inFIGS. 3C and 8.

Further rotation of the cam 63 from the 97 point to the 165 point, whichis designated region C inthe plot of FIG. 6, does not produce movementof the magnet 24. However, during'this portion of the cam cycle thepreviously set sort bars 48 are reset and the lock bar 50 elevated to aset position to restrain movement of the undesired cards 22b. The magnetpositions shown in FIG. 3D.

As the cam 63 rotates from the 165 point to the l70 point designatedregion D, D in the plot of FIG. 6, the cam lobes D and D engage theirrespective cam follower wheels 81 and 80, moving the magnet 24 adistance of 0.125 inches in the direction of arrow 4641, from theposition shown in'FIG. 8 to the position shown in FIG. 9. Duringrotation of the cam 27 from the 165 point to the 170 point, the racksand 96 secured to the bottom of the sliding plate 53 which moves with.the magnet 24 engage the stationary rotatable pinions 97 and 98,insuring that the drawer 26, during the final separation phase of theretrieval cycle, remains parallel to chips 23 of the stored cards.

Continued rotation of the cam 63 from the 170 point to the 200 point,designated region F in the plot of FIG. 6, is ineffective to furtheradvance the drawer 26. However, at the 200 point the cam drive wheel 87engages the cam follower edge 89 of the sliding plate 53. As the camplate rotates from the 200 point to the 330 point, designated region Gin the plot of FIG. 6, the cam drive wheel 87 advances the plate 53, andhence the drawer 26 and magnet 24, a distance of l.75 inches from theposition shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 10. This movementof magnet 24 further separates the desired cards 220 from the undesiredcards 22b, advancing the desired cards to the position shown in FIG. 3B.When the cam 63 has rotated to the 330 point (FIG. 10) the finalseparation phase of the card retrieval cycle, which began at the point(FIG. 3D and 8), is completed, and further rotation of the cam 63 fromthe 330 point to the home, 360 or 0 point (designated region .I in theplot of FIG. 6) is ineffective to advance'the selected cards 22a beyondthe point shown in FIG.

magnet 24 and undesired card chips 23 time-staggered, the

maximum force which must be applied to the magnet to effect breakaway issubstantially reduced, permitting smaller and less powerful magnetshifting mechanisms to be utilized.

1 claim:

l. Apparatus for relatively moving a support having a plurality ofaligned cards positioned thereon and a magnet disposed transversely ofsaid cards in magnetically attractive relationship to ferromagneticchips secured thereto, said apparatus comprising:

a cam rotatably mounted on one of said support and magnet, said camhaving an edge with first and second lobes;

and a pair of bellcranks each pivotally mounted on said one of saidsupport and magnet adjacent opposite sides of said cam edge, saidbellcranks each having a. a cam follower arm engageable with a differentone of said cam lobes for pivoting its respective bellcrank when itsassociated lobe contacts said cam follower arm, and a pushing armengageable with the other of said support and magnet at a differentregion for relatively moving said region and said one of said supportand magnet when its respective bellcrank pivots, said lobes and saidbellcranks being dimensioned and configured relative to each other suchthat said different regions move relative to said one of said supportand magnet in skewed relationship, thereby enabling said magnet to breakaway from said chips in a time-staggered manner. 2. The apparatus ofclaim 2 wherein said cam lobes are nondiametral, wherein said cam andbellcranks are rotatably and respective cam follower arms located atdiametrically opv posite positions relative to said cam, whereby saidcam lobes disposed adjacent the ferromagnetic members of first andsecond groups of associated cards for attracting said different groupsof cards and being shiftable in a direction parallel to said sortingedges for partially separating said desired and unpivot their respectivebellcranks, imparting motion to said 5 desired cards, the improvementcomprising:

magnet regions, in a time-staggered manner as said cam rotates.

3. ln apparatus for selecting cards having a sorting edge with alternateregistration notches and code notchable teeth from a plurality ofdifferent cards supported with their respective sorting edge aligned,each of said cards having a magnetically responsive portion thereon,wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of sorting bars disposedtransversely of said sorting edges adjacent said registration notches, asorting bar actuator for selectively moving said sorting bars intodifferent ones of said registration notches of said cards, an elongatedmagnet having opposite end regions and disposed adjacent saidmagnetically responsive portions of said cards for attracting said cardsand being shiftable in a direction parallel to said sorting edges forpartially separating cards having their respective teeth notched inconformity with the pattern of actuated sorting bars from cards notconformingly notched, the improvement which comprises: I

a magnet-shifting mechanism including a. a first drive memberoperatively associated with one of said magnet end regions for shiftingsaid one end region to thereby partially separate conformingly andnonconformingly notched cards associated with said one magnet endregion, b. a second drive member operatively associated with the otherof said magnet end regions for shifting said other end region to therebypartially separate conformingly and nonconformingly notched cardsassociated with said other magnet end region, and

c. operating means for said drive members for operating said first andsecond drive members to noncoincidentally shift said one and othermagnet end regions, thereby partially separating said cards in atime-staggered manner.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said first and second drivemembers include first and second pivotally mounted bellcranks, saidbellcranks each having a cam follower arm and a magnet pushing arm, thepushing arms of said bellcranks being engageable with different ones ofsaid magnet end regions, and wherein said operating means includes arotatably mounted cam having first and'second lobes adapted to engagedifferent ones of said cam followers, said lobes and bellcranks beingdimensioned and configured relative to each other such that said pushingarms noncoincidentally impart motion to said magnet end regions therebypartially separating said desired and undesired cards in saidtime-staggered manner.

5. ln apparatus for selecting desired cards each having a predeterminednotch pattern along a sorting edge and a ferromagnetic member in atransverse edge from undesired cards each having a different notchpattern and a ferromagnetic member, wherein the apparatus includes asupport for supporting the cards with their respecting sorting andtransverse edges and ferromagnetic members aligned, a plurality ofsorting bars disposed transversely of said sorting edges adjacent saidnotches, a sorting bar actuator for selectively moving said sorting barsinto different ones of said registration notches, and an elongatedmagnet having opposite end regions a magnet-shifting mechanism includinga. a first drive member operatively associated with one of said magnetend regions for shifting said one end region to thereby partiallyseparate desired and undesired cards associated with said one rna netend region, b. a second drive member operative y associated with theother of said magnet end regions for shifting said other end region tothereby partially separate desired and undesired cards associated withsaid other magnet end region, and c. operating means for said drivemembers for operating said first and second drive members tononcoincidentally move said one and other magnet end regions, therebypartially separating said desired and undesired cards in atime-staggered manner,

at least one rack mounted for movement with said magnet in a directionsubstantially parallel to its longitudinal axis, and

at least one pinion rotatable about a stationary axis for initiatingmeshing engagement with said rack subsequent to said noncoincidentshifting of said magnet end regions, thereby maintaining said elongatedmagnet substantially parallel to said sorting bars when said magnet issubsequently moved to further separate said desired and undesired cards.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein there are at least two racksrespectively cooperating with at least two pinions, said cooperatingracks and pinions being spaced apart.

. 7. The improvement of claim 5 further including a. a movable plateunderlying said card support means and having opposite parallel sideedges, said magnet and said racks being mounted for movement with saidplate, and

b. a pair of spaced guide blocks each having a slot for slidinglysupporting a different one of said opposite plate side edges, said slotsbeing spaced apart a distance exceeding the distance between saidopposite plate side edges to permit said plate and magnet to skew duringsaid time-staggered partial separation of said desired and undesiredcards.

8. A method of sorting desired cards each having a predetermined notchpattern along a sorting edge and a ferromagnetic member in a transverseedge from undesired cards each havinga different notch pattern and aferromagnetic member in a transverse edge, said method comprising:

disposing said cards in a position with the sorting and transverse edgesof said cards in alignment, and with said ferromagnetic members inalignment and magnetically attracted to an elongated magnet disposedcommon to all said cards, selectively moving sorting bars disposed inregistry with said notches into engagement with the notches of saidpredetermined pattern, and

noncoincidentally moving opposite end regions of said mag net relativeto first and second groups of cards respectively associated therewithfor partially separating in a time staggered manner desired andundesired cards in said first and second groups.

1. Apparatus for relatively moving a support having a plurality ofaligned cards positioned thereon and a magnet disposed transversely ofsaid cards in magnetically attractive relationship to ferromagneticchips secured thereto, said apparatus comprising: a cam rotatablymounted on one of said support and magnet, said cam having an edge withfirst and second lobes; and a pair of bellcranks each pivotally mountedon said one of said support and magnet adjacent opposite sides of saidcam edge, said bellcranks each having a. a cam follower arm engageablewith a different one of said cam lobes for pivoting its respectivebellcrank when its associated lobe contacts said cam follower arm, andb. a pushing arm engageable with the other of said support and magnet ata different region for relatively moving said region and said one ofsaid support and magnet when its respective bellcranK pivots, said lobesand said bellcranks being dimensioned and configured relative to eachother such that said different regions move relative to said one of saidsupport and magnet in skewed relationship, thereby enabling said magnetto break away from said chips in a time-staggered manner.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein said cam lobes are nondiametral, whereinsaid cam and bellcranks are rotatably and pivotally mounted,respectively, on said card support, and wherein said bellcranks areidentically configured and their respective cam follower arms located atdiametrically opposite positions relative to said cam, whereby said camlobes pivot their respective bellcranks, imparting motion to said magnetregions, in a time-staggered manner as said cam rotates.
 3. In apparatusfor selecting cards having a sorting edge with alternate registrationnotches and code notchable teeth from a plurality of different cardssupported with their respective sorting edge aligned, each of said cardshaving a magnetically responsive portion thereon, wherein the apparatusincludes a plurality of sorting bars disposed transversely of saidsorting edges adjacent said registration notches, a sorting bar actuatorfor selectively moving said sorting bars into different ones of saidregistration notches of said cards, an elongated magnet having oppositeend regions and disposed adjacent said magnetically responsive portionsof said cards for attracting said cards and being shiftable in adirection parallel to said sorting edges for partially separating cardshaving their respective teeth notched in conformity with the pattern ofactuated sorting bars from cards not conformingly notched, theimprovement which comprises: a magnet-shifting mechanism including a. afirst drive member operatively associated with one of said magnet endregions for shifting said one end region to thereby partially separateconformingly and nonconformingly notched cards associated with said onemagnet end region, b. a second drive member operatively associated withthe other of said magnet end regions for shifting said other end regionto thereby partially separate conformingly and nonconformingly notchedcards associated with said other magnet end region, and c. operatingmeans for said drive members for operating said first and second drivemembers to noncoincidentally shift said one and other magnet endregions, thereby partially separating said cards in a time-staggeredmanner.
 4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said first and seconddrive members include first and second pivotally mounted bellcranks,said bellcranks each having a cam follower arm and a magnet pushing arm,the pushing arms of said bellcranks being engageable with different onesof said magnet end regions, and wherein said operating means includes arotatably mounted cam having first and second lobes adapted to engagedifferent ones of said cam followers, said lobes and bellcranks beingdimensioned and configured relative to each other such that said pushingarms noncoincidentally impart motion to said magnet end regions therebypartially separating said desired and undesired cards in saidtime-staggered manner.
 5. In apparatus for selecting desired cards eachhaving a predetermined notch pattern along a sorting edge and aferromagnetic member in a transverse edge from undesired cards eachhaving a different notch pattern and a ferromagnetic member, wherein theapparatus includes a support for supporting the cards with theirrespecting sorting and transverse edges and ferromagnetic membersaligned, a plurality of sorting bars disposed transversely of saidsorting edges adjacent said notches, a sorting bar actuator forselectively moving said sorting bars into different ones of saidregistration notches, and an elongated magnet having opposite endregions disposed adjacent the ferromagnetic members of first and secondgroups of associated cards for attracting said different groups of cardsand being shIftable in a direction parallel to said sorting edges forpartially separating said desired and undesired cards, the improvementcomprising: a magnet-shifting mechanism including a. a first drivemember operatively associated with one of said magnet end regions forshifting said one end region to thereby partially separate desired andundesired cards associated with said one magnet end region, b. a seconddrive member operatively associated with the other of said magnet endregions for shifting said other end region to thereby partially separatedesired and undesired cards associated with said other magnet endregion, and c. operating means for said drive members for operating saidfirst and second drive members to noncoincidentally move said one andother magnet end regions, thereby partially separating said desired andundesired cards in a time-staggered manner, at least one rack mountedfor movement with said magnet in a direction substantially parallel toits longitudinal axis, and at least one pinion rotatable about astationary axis for initiating meshing engagement with said racksubsequent to said noncoincident shifting of said magnet end regions,thereby maintaining said elongated magnet substantially parallel to saidsorting bars when said magnet is subsequently moved to further separatesaid desired and undesired cards.
 6. The improvement of claim 5 whereinthere are at least two racks respectively cooperating with at least twopinions, said cooperating racks and pinions being spaced apart.
 7. Theimprovement of claim 5 further including a. a movable plate underlyingsaid card support means and having opposite parallel side edges, saidmagnet and said racks being mounted for movement with said plate, and b.a pair of spaced guide blocks each having a slot for slidinglysupporting a different one of said opposite plate side edges, said slotsbeing spaced apart a distance exceeding the distance between saidopposite plate side edges to permit said plate and magnet to skew duringsaid time-staggered partial separation of said desired and undesiredcards.
 8. A method of sorting desired cards each having a predeterminednotch pattern along a sorting edge and a ferromagnetic member in atransverse edge from undesired cards each having a different notchpattern and a ferromagnetic member in a transverse edge, said methodcomprising: disposing said cards in a position with the sorting andtransverse edges of said cards in alignment, and with said ferromagneticmembers in alignment and magnetically attracted to an elongated magnetdisposed common to all said cards, selectively moving sorting barsdisposed in registry with said notches into engagement with the notchesof said predetermined pattern, and noncoincidentally moving opposite endregions of said magnet relative to first and second groups of cardsrespectively associated therewith for partially separating in atime-staggered manner desired and undesired cards in said first andsecond groups.